# How to lock a photo album on iPhone

> Regular photo albums on iPhone can't be locked. Hide the album's photos so they go to the locked Hidden album, or move them to a locked note or a vault.

Source: https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/lock-photo-album-iphone/ · Updated 2026-11-01 · By VaultForYou

![Album with photos selected to hide](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/img/guides--lock-photo-album-iphone.png)

- No album lock
- 3 workarounds

Regular albums can't take a lock. Here are three ways that get the same result.

- **Ways:** 3

**Quick answer:** iPhone can't lock a regular album. Open the album, tap **Select › Select All › ••• › Hide**: the photos move to the **Hidden album**, which locks with Face ID on iOS 16 and later. For a lock that isn't your passcode, use a **locked note** or a **vault**.

Fastest

## Move the album into Hidden

1. **Select the photos.** Open Photos. In Library, tap **Select**, then tap each photo or video you want to hide.
2. **Tap ••• then Hide.** Tap the **More** button (•••) and choose **Hide**.
3. **Confirm once.** Tap **Hide [number] Photos** to confirm for the whole batch.

Options

## Three ways to lock an album

**We make VaultForYou, so weigh it accordingly.**

|  | [Hidden album](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/hidden-album/) | [Locked note](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/locked-note/) | [Vault](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/locks/vault/) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Opens with | Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode | A custom notes password (or your passcode, iOS 16+) | A pattern you draw (4+ dots). Your passcode doesn't open it |
| Separate from your passcode | No | Yes | Yes |
| Holds video | Yes | No | Yes |
| Several private spaces | No | Yes | Yes |
| Decoy for pressure | No | No | Yes |
| Protects stored photos | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| What others can see | A "Hidden" row in Utilities, unless switched off | The note title, with a lock icon | No vault names, counts or previews on its lock screen |
| If you forget it | Reset your iPhone passcode | Apple can't recover a custom notes password | Nobody can open that vault; there is no reset |
| Needs | iOS 16+ | iOS 14+ | iOS 16+ |
| Setup time | 10 sec | 1 min | 2 min |
| Cost | Built in, free | Built in, free | Free download; Premium optional |

> A lock that isn't your iPhone passcodeVaultForYou keeps the photos, videos and documents you choose in a private vault that opens only with a pattern you draw. [Get VaultForYou](https://www.vaultforyou.app/)Free to download · iPhone, iOS 16 or later

Did that work?

Good. People usually do this next:

- [How to lock notes on iPhone](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/lock-notes-iphone/)
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- [Forgot your notes password on iPhone?](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/forgot-notes-password/)

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- [Not the right lockCompare all five](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/compare/)
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Questions

## Lock a photo album: questions

### Can you lock a photo album on iPhone?

Not a regular album. Hide its photos so they move to the Hidden album, which locks on iOS 16 and later, or put them in a locked note or a vault app.

### Can I lock albums with a password?

The Hidden album uses your iPhone passcode. A locked note can use its own notes password. A vault app uses its own lock.

### What happens to the empty album?

It stays in your album list. Delete it if you like; deleting an album doesn't delete photos.

## More guides

- [How to lock notes on iPhone](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/lock-notes-iphone/)
- [How to unlock notes on iPhone](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/unlock-notes-iphone/)
- [Forgot your notes password on iPhone?](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/forgot-notes-password/)
- [How to lock the Photos app on iPhone](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/lock-photos-app-iphone/)
- [How to password-protect photos on iPhone](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/password-protect-photos-iphone/)
- [How to lock your iPhone to one photo](https://lockphotosoniphone.com/guides/lock-iphone-to-one-photo/)